Prices of the essential kitchen items remained on the high side during this week past as compared to preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday. Traders at grains and vegetable markets told Business Recorder that there had been no stability in the prices over the past two weeks, and following the increase in high speed diesel prices on April 1, transportation cost had also started affecting the prices.
They said that now the transporters had passed on the impact of fuel price increase by increasing fares as a result of price of every item had witnessed three to six percent increase.
During the week under review, tomatoes prices went further up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 550 per 5kg which in retail market were being sold at Rs 120-130 per kg against Rs 50 per kg, onions price went up from Rs 150 per 5kg to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 40 per kg, and potatoes price went down from Rs 90 per 5kg to Rs 80 per 5kg which in retail market were being sold at Rs 20 per kg against Rs 25 per kg.
Local garlic price went further up from Rs 550 per 5kg to Rs 650 per 5 kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 145 per kg, Chinese garlic price went up from Rs 575 per 5kg to Rs 800 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 200 per kg against Rs 170 per kg. Local ginger price went up from Rs 730 per 5 kg to Rs 850 per 5 kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 200 per kg against Rs 180 per kg.
Capsicum price went up from Rs 330 per 5kg to Rs 350 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 85 per kg against Rs 80 per kg; yam (arvi) price remained stable at Rs 300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 75 per kg; carrot price remained stable at Rs 130 per 5 kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 30 per kg, radish price remained stable at Rs 130 per 8kg pack which in retail market was being sold at Rs 25 per kg, and peas price went up from Rs 200 per 5kg to Rs 225 per 5kg which in retail market were being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50-55 per kg.
Cucumber price went up from Rs 150 per 5kg to Rs 175 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 40 per kg, cauliflower price went up from Rs 175 per 5 kg to Rs 200 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 40 per kg, cabbage price went up from Rs 90 to Rs 100 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 30 per kg against 20-25 per kg.
Okra price went up from Rs 570 per 5kg to Rs 650 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 140 per kg, brinjal price remained stable at Rs 200 which in retail market was being sold at Rs 60 per kg, and ridge gourd (tori) price went up from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 450 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 110 per kg against Rs 100 per kg.
Pumpkin price went down from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 250 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 60 per kg against 70-80 per kg in retail market, tinda price remained stable at Rs 300 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 70 per kg, beans price went up from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 375 per 5kg which in retail market were being sold at Rs 90 per kg against Rs 80 per kg, Bitter gourd (Kareela) price went up from Rs 620 per 5kg to Rs 700 per 5kg which in retail market was being sold at Rs 160 per kg against Rs 130-140 per kg.
The survey observed no changes in the price of sugar, cooking oil, tea, spices, milk and rice during this week. Last week sugar price went up from Rs 2,750 per 50kg bag to Rs 3,020 per 50kg bag, good quality ghee/cooking oil from Rs 870 per 5 kg/litre pack to Rs 1,020 per5 kg/litre pack, Lipton Yellow Label tea half kg pack from Rs 485 per pack to Rs 520 per pack, all brands of normal sized pack of spices from Rs 55 per pack to Rs 65 per pack, chicken from Rs 5,400 per 40 kg to Rs 5,700 per 40 kg and wheat flour from Rs 770 per 20kg bag to Rs 800 per 20kg bag.
Chicken in retail was being sold at Rs 170 per kg against Rs 155 per kg, while chicken meat was being sold at Rs 300 per kg against Rs 280 per kg. Egg prices witnessed no change as per dozen eggs were available at Rs 78 per dozen in wholesales market while in retail market eggs were being sold at Rs 85 per dozen.